SCOIL NAOMH IOSAF

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Introduction

Scoil Naomh Iosaf’s Critical Incident Management Plan outlines the preparation that the personnel in Scoil Naomh Iosaf will take in order to ensure an effective response to a crisis situation/critical incident. Thus it should enable the school to cope effectively in the event of a crisis and will enable staff to react quickly and to maintain a sense of care and control. The plan may also ensure that normality returns as soon as possible and that the effects on students and staff are as limited as possible.

The ethos of Scoil Naomh Iosaf is characterised by a warm and caring environment where pupils and Staff members encourage and nurture the creation of a caring and safe school environment. This is manifest in our Revised Code of Behaviour (2012) our anti-bullying policy, our ongoing focus on health safety issues in the school and its environs, the implementation of the school’s SPHE programme and so forth.

This caring and supportive environment will contribute to the successful implementation of this plan in the event of a critical incident.

The school also has a plan for evacuation (for instance, in the event of a fire), which all pupils and staff are aware of and as outlined in our Health and Safety Policy, a fire drill is undertaken at least once, a school year.

In the event of a critical incident the staff will endeavour to maintain normal routines as far as possible particularly for classes not immediately involved or affected by the incident.

Definition of a Critical Incident:

In general, a critical incident refers to “any incident or sequence of events which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of the school” (Responding to Critical Incidents p.5). This may include the sudden death/accident/suicide of a member of the school community, an accident involving pupils/staff on the school premises, a physical attack on a staff member or pupil or serious damage to the school building. The disappearance of a member of the school community and an accident/tragedy in the wider community are also regarded as critical incidents.

SNI Critical Incident Management Team

  • Mairead Hennessy: Prin.
  • Carmel Doyle: Deputy Prin.
  • Fintan Doyle: BOM Chairperson
  • BOM: Sr. Eileen Deegan.
  • Bernie Donegan Assist. Prin.
  • SMT personnel

To ensure that communication between the school and relevant personnel is speedy and effective in the event of a critical incident, the Critical Incident Management Team will

  1. Establish and maintain an up-to-date list of contact numbers for

Pupils, parents/guardians – ‘Critical Incidents’ Folder in Principal’s office. Sample Ceremony Arrangements, Prayers of the Faithful etc.

Staff Members - Text Service available

Emergency support services – Folder in Principal’s office.

  1. Compile emergency information for school trips to include:

A list of all pupils/staff involved and the teacher in chargeSee Tour Policy

See list of mobile phone numbers for accompanying teachers

See Medication Folder with up to date medical information on pupils – allergies, epilepsy etc. (Ms. Eimer Casey SMT Member)

  1. Roles and responsibilities assigned to each of the team members (and/or other staff) in the event of a critical incident.

Task / Name
Overall management of response / Principal/ Deputy Principal
External Liaison (outside support agencies; parents; distressed visitors; the media) / NEPS/ HSE/Garda
Internal care and communication (with staff, pupils immediately involved/affected and pupils in general) / Assistant Principals/ SMT /NEPS
Administration Tasks (answering telephone, organising room(s) for debriefing, letters, log of events etc.) / School Secretary
Other / BOM Members/PTA Members

PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF CRITICAL INCIDENTS

  1. Short-Term Actions (1st Day)

Task
Refer to Section 3 Responding to Critical Incidents for details pertaining to each task / Name
Person responsible for organising the enactment of the task(s)
Gather accurate information (who, what, where…)
Contact appropriate agencies (details in staff room and Principal’s office)
  1. MEDIUM-TERM ACTIONS (24 – 72 HOURS)

See written account of Critical incident log in‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

C.LONGER TERM ACTIONS

Related Issues

Parent Body Meeting: See ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

Follow up Letter to Parents: See ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

First Anniversary Acknowledgement: See ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A SUICIDE OR SUSPECTED SUICIDE

See Sample “Media Statement” in ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

See Sample “ Letters to Parents” in ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF SEVERE SELF MUTILATION

RESOURCE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE SCHOOL

See ‘When Tragedy Strikes’.

See ‘Responding to Critical Incidents - Guidelines for Schools’

See ‘Critical Incidents Information’ Folder in Principal’s office.

See ‘Infection in School’ in Office and Principal’s Office

See ‘Children Also Grieve’ in Principal’s office

See ‘The Little Book of Bereavement for Schools’in Principal’s office

School Mass/Service

See ‘Critical Incidents’ Folder in Principal’s office. Sample Ceremony Arrangements, Prayers of the Faithful etc.

Sample Media Statement

Sample Letter to Parent Body

Sample Letter to Parents

Appropriate Prayers/ Hymns: See Appendix 1and See ‘Critical IncidentsInformation’ Folder in Principal’s office. Sample Ceremony Arrangements

Appropriate Presentation of Information See ‘Critical IncidentsInformation’ Folder in Principal’s office.

Other Issuese.g. Child with Meningitis/in contact with person with Meningitis

24/03/2015

Appendix 1

Prayers of the Faithful. Sample

  1. Today we remember ______’s special talents and unique qualities. We celebrate and remember ______’s caring nature, caring for his/her family members especially for his/her ______.

LORD HEAR US.

  1. We remember ______’s time in Scoil Naomh Iosaf, particularly her willingness and ability to lend a helping hand during activities in the classroom.

LORD HEAR US.

  1. Today we ask God to give strength and consolation to _____’s parents _____ and ______, to her sisters , and ______, to his/her brothers , to ______and family who are heartbroken at this sad time.

LORD HEAR US.

  1. As we gather here in faith let us remember ______’s short but fulfilled life. We thank God for the gift of life and we ask Him to help all those experiencing difficulties.

LORD HEAR US.

  1. Pray for all the faithful departed especially the deceased members of the ______families. Comfort all those who grieve at this time.

LORD HEAR US.

  1. We pray for all those who have assisted the ______family at this time, their neighbours and friends, their extended family members, the priests, the schools and all who helped in the community.

LORD HEAR US.

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